A Taste of Taste

Taste… mmm… Taste… the name speaks for itself. Need I say more?

I entered, tired and hungry from an afternoon of dodging roadworks and Big Issue sellers, and joined the large queue of library pilgrims, who had snubbed Café 1413 (does anyone even call it that?) in favour of this cosy living-room coffee-stop. It was my mission to find out why.

I ordered a large Americano, and turned my attention to food. Everywhere. Croissants, brownies, chocolate twists, granola bars, cake… there was even some fruit, but that was mostly for decoration (N.B. the fruit bowl’s fittingly alternative label: ‘Still Life’). I noticed a huge stack of Paninis in the fridge, and asked my barista for his personal choice. He recommended something involving hummus, which I ignored, hunting for one containing animal parts instead. *Much rummaging*…Ham! Bingo! With some smoked cheddar, apricot chutney and rocket. Yummy. I took my place facing the window, where hundreds have sat before, glaring out from behind their Macs as I passed. I sipped my coffee; it was rich, smooth, and easily one of the best Americanos in town. Muchos kudos. Minutes later, the toasted goodness was personally delivered to my table. Awesome. Great service, great coffee, and nobody laughing like a horse = happy Dan.

My lunch was a bit of an anti-climax, although that was partly my fault for misreading the label and believing I had bought an orgasmic (organic) Panini. Still, it was crispy, flavourful, but not quite enough for its £3.95 price tag. With a small hole in my stomach, and despite the slightly larger one in my wallet, I went ahead and ordered their home-made spicy bean soup, having reassured myself that The Stand would happily refund my research expense. (Pleasepleaseprettyplease?). Well, their soup is home-made every day and it was, dare I say, soup-er! Ugh, I regret that one, but my delete key is broken, so I Stand by it (hoho).

Distracted by my substantial bowl of broth and suddenly excited by the prospect of alfresco dining, I took it to go and left the cosy café. Halfway down North Street, it dawned on me that I had left the very place I was reviewing and had forgotten everything about it. Shit. U-turn. Awkward shuffle back inside. Trying not to look suspicious, I played the ‘just off to the toilet’ card and…oh…um…excuse me, where are your toilets? Bugger. Large Americano, bowl of soup, no toilets. I decided that the relaxed atmosphere would have been spoiled by my incontinence so with a heavy heart and bladder, I left Taste for the last time.

While doing so, I totalled up my lunchtime spending spree. £8. Double bugger. Fear not, I have an iceberg lettuce and a Toffee Crisp to last me till Thursday, although donations sent to New Hall will be gratefully received. Anyway, if you’ve got a lot of spare cash, an empty bladder and an afternoon, there’s no better way to spend it than in Taste.

Photos © Cecilia Uddenfeldt Wort and Lauren Hepburn